GLAAD and Equality Springfield, a volunteer organization made up of citizens who support the LGBTQ+ community who believe in a welcoming and inclusive Springfield, Ohio, released a fact sheet and statements in response to disinformation shared about HIV amid recent targeting of Springfield’s immigrant community.
At least 33 bomb threats have been called into Springfield’s elementary schools, colleges, City Hall and other government buildings in the days following homestate Ohio Senator JD Vance’s amplification of rumors about Springfield’s Haitian immigrants. Vance has publicly admitted to “creating a story” boosting the unsubstantiated rumors about immigrants and pets.
Today, The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance’s staff knew the rumors about Springfield’s pets were baseless. According to the Journal, a Vance staff member called the Springfield City Manager on September 9th. Vance’s staff member was told the rumors are not true and there is no evidence to support them. Vance did not offer this information publicly or correct his comments or tweets. Former president Donald Trump further amplified the false claims in the presidential debate last week, the day after Vance’s staff learned the claims were untrue.
On Sept. 9, JD Vance’s staff called the Springfield city manager to ask if there was any truth to the rumors about Haitian immigrants.
“He asked point-blank, ‘Are the rumors true of pets being taken and eaten?’ I told him no.”
Vance left the post up. https://t.co/NlINm0nS2b pic.twitter.com/1l0rbnxSDJ
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) September 18, 2024
Amid these false claims, Vance has also spread inaccurate and officially debunked rhetoric about “skyrocketing” cases of HIV. Here are the facts:
- Ohio health officials including Clark County Health District Commissioner Chris Cook reiterated that “we have not seen a substantial increase in all reportable communicable diseases,” and that if you look at all reportable communicable diseases together (minus COVID) for the year ending 2023 you will see that we are at our lowest rate in Clark County since 2016.”
- Springfield’s city manager released a statement last week refuting the rumors amplified by Vance and Trump, stating there is no evidence to support claims of pets or city wildlife being harmed. AP reported that city officials noted: “misinformation and falsehoods about Haitian immigrants have sowed fear and division, disrupted learning and cost taxpayer dollars.”
- The Wall Street Journal reported today that a Vance staff member called the city manager on September 9th to verify the rumors about pets, and was told they were not true, and that there was no evidence to support them. Vance’s tweet repeating the unsubstantiated rumors remains posted, he has continued to repeat them in subsequent interviews, along with officially disproven claims about a “skyrocketing” rise in “communicable diseases.”
- At least 33 separate bomb threats have been made against Springfield City Hall, elementary schools, and state offices, many of them forced to evacuate. Families in the working class city scrambled to find child care with schools closed. On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that highway patrol officers have been diverted to the city’s 18 schools, with additional measures taken including sweeping school buildings for bombs, monitoring security cameras around town, and adding a full-time bomb-sniffing dog.
“It induces panic and fear and depletes resources,” Springfield’s city manager told the Wall Street Journal. “We’re living the danger that misinformation and created stories leads to.”
- An estimated 12,000 – 15,000 people from Haiti are legally in Springfield, and contributing to growth in the economy, according to Gov. DeWine: “What the companies tell us is that they are very good workers. They’re very happy to have them there, and frankly, that’s helped the economy. Now, are there problems connected? Well, sure. When you go from a population of 58,000 and add 15,000 people onto that, you’re going to have some challenges and some problems. And we’re addressing those,” he added.
Equality Springfield’s Executive Committee released the following statement to GLAAD: “Equality Springfield unequivocally denounces the dangerous and baseless claims that our Haitian population has led to “skyrocketing” cases of HIV in Springfield. We are steadfast in our commitment to end the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and call on all media outlets to promote facts and debunk falsehoods.”
Equality Springfield was created ten years ago to support LGBTQ+ people of Springfield and surrounding areas. Its leadership told GLAAD the group organized to pass the city’s first LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance, then started producing events to bring the LGBTQ community and allies together. It has hosted successful, safe and well-attended Pride celebrations over the past five years.
“Leaders and all in the media must prioritize facts to protect public health and safety, and end this selfish targeting of vulnerable communities, in Springfield and everywhere,” said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis.
“Media must immediately challenge irresponsible rhetoric about HIV and elevate accurate information: HIV is preventable, treatable to the point of undetectable and therefore untransmittable (U=U), and people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives. HIV is a serious topic that should always be discussed with care and with the goal of ending the stigma that fuels the epidemic.”
On September 12, 2024, GLAAD released the 5th Annual State of HIV Stigma Report—the only report of its kind to track Americans’ knowledge, attitudes, and sentiments about HIV and HIV stigma. The study found:
- A significant reduction in the belief that stigma around HIV still exists over five years, from 89% in 2020 to 85% in 2024.
- Knowledge of HIV remains stable with nearly 90% of Americans reporting they know at least a little about HIV, with half of Americans feeling knowledgeable.
- Gen Z continues to be among the least knowledgeable generations about HIV. Only 37% of Gen Z adults are knowledgeable about HIV, on par with five years ago.
- The following areas have seen declines over the last five years of tracking:
- A significant decrease in the belief that everyone should get tested for HIV, from 77% in 2020 to 67% in 2024. This decline is seen across all regions of the country.
- A significant decrease in the belief that people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives, from 90% in 2020 to 85% in 2024.
GLAAD’s HIV Stigma Study shows visibility in the media of people living with HIV can increase awareness about HIV and expand understanding and compassion for those living with HIV. Visibility is lacking, however. GLAAD’s Where We Are on TV study showed only one LGBTQ character in primetime scripted broadcast, cable, or streaming programming living with HIV in the most recent television season. The character is not expected to return. Fewer Americans report seeing people living with HIV in TV or film, from 39% in 2023 to 35% in 2024.
The Stigma Study shows people who see stories of people living with HIV are more comfortable around them in real life. Comfortability with people living with HIV in various scenarios in life increased up to 15% after seeing stories about them.
“We have come so far in understanding the truth about HIV, and we cannot afford to lose this crucial progress,” said GLAAD’s Sarah Kate Ellis.
“We need every voice speaking up for everyone’s right to be accepted, healthy and safe.”
About Equality Springfield:
Equality Springfield is a volunteer organization made up of citizens who support the LGBTQ+ community and believe in a welcoming and inclusive Springfield.